cannabisnews.com: Pot Crusader Sees Headway





Pot Crusader Sees Headway
Posted by CN Staff on July 19, 2003 at 08:49:47 PT
By Kurt Langmann
Source: Aldergrove Star 
He attacks the subject with all the fervour of a southern Baptist preacher chasing the demons out of his flock. Only in Timothy Felger’s case, he’s ripping apart the government and politicians for their “misplaced priorities” in going after cannabis consumers -- or “potheads” like himself. Felger’s been engaged in a running battle with authorities in recent years, since he moved from the American south to the bucolic country estates of Bradner, a rural community in Abbotsford that used to be better known for growing daffodils than marijuana. 
He’s been arrested 41 times by Abbotsford Police on a plethora of charges, most of them related to growing and possessing pot. Most of his neighbours frown upon his billboards, which stand along the front of his acreage. The homemade sign proclaiming “Legalize marijuana now” -- a double-sided sheet of plywood -- has been supplemented by an even larger one, which goes on a tirade against Abbotsford Mayor Mary Reeves and the “war on pot”. “I’ve been arrested 41 times, and in 38 of those cases the courts found me not guilty, that the police violated my rights. The other three are still undecided, they’re pending my court dates later this year,” said Felger Monday afternoon. “I’ll get off, I’m confident that I’ll beat those charges too.” Felger’s court dates this coming November are for counts of cultivation, trafficking and possession dating back to January of 2002, and a subsequent raid this past May yielded another charge. This also resulted in invoices from the city and police department, respectively, for $500 to have his property re-inspected by building inspectors under the “controlled substance bylaw”, and $1,563.90, plus $109.47 in GST, for recovery of police costs pursuant to the city bylaw. Felger doesn’t take long to warm to that subject: “”The police gave me a bill for taking my stuff? They took my computer, video camera, carpet cleaner, my vacuum cleaner and my tractor -- what’s that got to do with pot? I’m gonna strike down that bylaw and give the city a legal lesson.” Felger has hired Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy, Q.C., to represent him. Conroy represents a number of clients who are challenging the constitutionality of the nation’s marijuana laws. Felger is also eyeing the political arena and vows to run for the Marijuana Party of Canada in elections: “I hope to run against Randy White (Langley-Abbotsford Alliance Party MP) next. If I lose I’ll run against Mary Reeves or (Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman Liberal Party MLA and Forests Minister) Mike de Jong. Sooner or later I’ll get in a position where I can do something,” he said confidently. He’s also launched his own website -- http://www.britishcolumbiacannabis.com -- and has tried unsuccessfully to register the brand name British Columbia Marijuana, all in his campaign of what he calls “moral courage.” The billboards present his argument that the community at large is complaining that the police are not providing public protection from crimes such as car thefts, robberies and assaults, yet millions of dollars are spent in chasing down marijuana. “They need to re-prioritize and go after the real crimes,” said Felger. “I see stories all the time about how my neighbours complain that they don’t get protection from crooks.” However, when pressed for what his neighbours think of his campaign, Felger wrily admits: “My neighbours don’t talk to me that much.” Note: Tim Felger’s campaign to legalize pot adds more signs to Bradner residence. Source: Aldergrove Star (CN BC)Author: Kurt LangmannPublished: July 18, 2003Copyright: 2003 Aldergrove StarWebsite: http://www.aldergrovestar.com/Contact: newsroom aldergrovestar.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Party of Canadahttp://www.marijuanaparty.org/Pot Activist Felger Arrested in Police Raid http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16515.shtmlPot Farmer Arrested After TV Appearance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16511.shtml
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